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Five fun facts you didn't know about Samsung

ANDROIDPIT samsung BRAND SIGN GENERAL ifa2015
© nextpit

Are you a Samsung know-it-all? The South Korean company is without a doubt the most popular smartphone manufacturer in the world but it is also involved in other sectors: aeronautics, TVs and many others. As you can imagine, the more industries that they are involved in, the more anecdotes we have to tell, and some are really rather funny.

Samsung is going through a rough time at the moment: forced to abandon production of the flagship Note7 following a double whammy quality assurance failure, it had to settle for a significant loss and a tarnished reputation.

Its success, however, didn’t come about by accident. The company was established in 1938 under the name “Samsung Sanghoe” and had no claim as it produced and sold noodles. Many years later, it became one of the largest conglomerates in the country, branching out into other product divisions (Samsung Electronics being the most popular). With almost 80 years in business, you would suspect that it had a lot of experience.

samm2 There you go! A brand with a long history ...© Samsung

1. The name was destined for success

You probably know that brand names are never chosen by accident, whatever the nationality of the business. While the American company Nike was inspired by the Greek goddess Niké (Goddess of Victory) to demonstrate their desire to break into the market, “Samsung” is comprised of a combination of meanings: Sam (three) and Sung (stars).

From a western point of view, we have the tendency to associate stars with success. In Korea, it’s a little more complicated than that as the stars are references to three celestial Chinese Gods (this concept had been imported to Korea) who represent glory, luck and longevity.

2. The marketing budget is colossal

Samsung owes its popularity to several factors. On one hand, it was present at the birth of smartphones and succeeded in gaining a loyal clientele, leading a large number of them towards their mid-range, or indeed high-end, products. On the other hand, Samsung invested enormously into marketing/publicity. You’ve probably already seen posters at a bus stop or a TV advertisement.

We know that Samsung invested enormous amounts of money into Research & Development (more than 14 billion dollars in 2015) The marketing budget is also phenomenal. Coming in at 3.3 billion in 2016 which placed Samsung in the top 20 largest budgets, just after Nike. Out of all the big names in the smartphone world, only Sony has a larger budget (3.7 billion dollars).

Samsung was present since the birth of smartphones and succeeded in gaining a loyal clientele.

3. The CEO says it how it is

Samsung’s reputation at the end of the last century was similar to Chinese smartphones today: Quantity over quality. Lee Kun-hee came out with iconic phrases like “Change everything except your wife and children”. Things greatly improved, particularly within Samsung Electronics (unless you take into account the Note 7 scandal).

In 1995, he was so exasperated by the lack of quality in mobile phones that he set fire to billions of devices in front of the employees who were gathered especially for the spectacle. Today, they go on fire all by themselves, but that’s enough about that.

4. Samsung was responsible for the construction of the largest monument in the world

Have you heard of the Burj Khalifa tower? It can be found in Dubai and represents nothing less than the largest structure ever constructed by man, 828 meters tall in fact. Do you know who helped to construct this tower? Yes, it was Samsung.

Of course, it wasn't Samsung Electronics but Samsung C&T Corporation, a branch specializing in fashion, commerce and construction (yes it’s difficult to find any links between those sectors). As you can imagine, it was a huge project for the Korean giant, especially because it had to largely work with project partners, but it should be proud of the result.

Burj dubai 3.11.08
Here’s the Samsung tower in 2008. © Wikimedia

5. Samsung manufactures components for Apple

Samsung uses its experience to help some other companies, in particular, its biggest competitor: Apple. Despite two giants being in direct competition, it doesn’t stop them from working together. Samsung produces SSDs for Macs and a team also takes care of manufacturing Retina screens for iPads, if you believe Bloomberg. Apple’s lack of transparency doesn’t help when trying to obtain precise, reliable information, but it’s possible that Samsung still produces other components for its rival

After all, Samsung Mobile only comprises just over 30% of Samsung Electronics’ revenue, so there’s no harm in diversifying to earn a little more money.

Do you have any other funny facts to add to this list?

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Benoit Pepicq

Benoit Pepicq
Editor

Benoit is passionate about new technologies and everything related to computers. A big Android fan since 2011, he joined the AndroidPIT team to satisfy his passion and to share his knowledge on Android with readers.

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7 comments
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  • 1
    Ansonjolly Sep 7, 2017 Link to comment

    I'm happy to read about samsung moble phone site. It is a brilliant and excellent site instead of another site


  • Prasad Velkur 2
    Prasad Velkur Oct 20, 2016 Link to comment

    Samsung fans always cry Apple is a marketing company...but look here Apple does not spend even close to what Samsung spend on marketing their phones but still Apple brand is more popular... there must be something Apple is doing right or Samesung is failing in marketing also...?


  • Greg1100 24
    Greg1100 Oct 18, 2016 Link to comment

    Try looking at Samsung Heavy Industries- - building the largest ships ever made. Look at Samsung aero engines, Hankook tyres. And lots of other different irons in the fire.
    Look at construction- Samsung had contracts to build some of the tallest buildings in world, at the time.
    Then they go and naff up probably the best phone this year.


  • steve 16
    steve Oct 17, 2016 Link to comment

    It gets haircut by Delilah.

    John Martin


  • 22
    ljhaye Oct 16, 2016 Link to comment

    They also make cars

    steveJohn Martin


  • 31
    Deactivated Account Oct 15, 2016 Link to comment

    appropriately Samsung also does insurance...
    Fire and Marine insurance.!.
    should cover explosions and drowning..
    ... and Life insurance which should cover the owners of Samsung products..

    Sergio A GuzmánJohn MartinDeactivated Account


  • 46
    Deactivated Account Oct 15, 2016 Link to comment

    The sixth is they produce fireworks. Oops my bad that was a the Note 7 going off.

    John MartinSergio A GuzmánDwarfer66tungsten tungsten

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